The First Minister said it was "comforting and encouraging" that the No campaign's lead had been cut to just six percentage points, according to a Survation poll for the Scottish Daily Mail.

However, Mr Salmond stressed: "The polls are with us, but we're not there yet, we're still behind, we're still the underdogs, we've still got work to do, we're still trying harder ... to convince our fellow citizens that Yes offers the right vote for the future."

He also joined the Prime Minister in condemning the Yes supporter who pelted Scottish Labour MP Jim Murphy with eggs in Kirkcaldy, Fife yesterday.